I attribute the timidity of the soldiers in these seemingly simple tests to their general physical condition at the outset, and the increase in self-reliance to the better condition of their bodies at the end of the six months’ training. The story told by the measurements is both interesting and significant, but of less importance than the ability to improve under training, which ability cannot be measured with a tape or weighed with scales.
In the majority of cases there was a loss in body-weight, but this we look for, as the larger number of soldiers were fairly well supplied with adipose tissue. Both Sliney and Oakman are exceptions, these men being “fine” at the outset. I mean thin and muscular with little fat. The latter, Oakman, is an old man judged from the physical activity standpoint, and lost noticeably during the tests and exercise. I refer to weight and girth measurements only. He made a very large gain in his strength tests and was among the leading men in all that called for courage and self-control. Sliney, nervous, irritable, and aggressive, balanced his losses with his gains in the tape and scale events, but made great improvement in the use of the dynamometers. Fritz and Cohn were quite fat and showed the expected loss in weight, but not in other respects.
For comparison I have quoted from Dr. J. W. Seaver’s anthropometric charts and have selected the “Average Student Measurements” (2390 men) as well as the mean measurements of 500 athletes and gymnasts. A glance at either set of figures will give an idea of how the soldiers compare with men living on a regular diet and surrounded with the very best environment.
The strength tests stand for mental states more than the tape line and calipers, and are suggestive of improvement in body conditions for the reasons mentioned above. These records are far above those made by Academic Freshmen in Yale, but it must be added that the soldiers have taken more exercise than the collegians.
The hearts and lungs of the men are in excellent condition, while the soldiers as a body are in better shape physically, are stronger and healthier than in October. The skin of the men is clear and ruddy.
The figures for comparison in the Strength Test Table are from the records sent me by Dr. Geo. Meylan, the Director of the Columbia University Gymnasium. I understand that others than college men are represented in his data. In the figures given in my own tables I have omitted the small fractions in the main body of the tables, but have recorded them in the totals.
The greater portion of the training of the soldiers has been under the personal supervision of Wm. H. Callahan, M. D., the Medical Assistant at the Gymnasium, to whom I am indebted for help and suggestions. Mr. Wm. Chase, Mr. Anton Muller, Mr. John Stapleton, and Mr. H. R. Gladwin, Assistant Instructors in the Gymnasium, have led the drills and have looked after the actual muscular training of the men. I gladly acknowledge the co-operation of these gentlemen in the physical development of the squad.
A brief summary of my conclusions:—
The men were not above the average standard, physically, when they began their work, this standard being set by applicants for firemen and policemen, not by college students. At the end of their training they were much above the same standard, while their strength tests were far greater than the averages made by college men. They showed less improvement in increase in size than University men do under like gymnastic treatment, but the gain in self-confidence and in body-fibre was very evident. The gain in accuracy and skill was marked. The men showed interest in their work throughout the six months. At the end of the period of training the soldiers were in excellent condition in spite of the fact that in some cases there was a slight loss of body-weight. This loss is not to be attributed necessarily to the diet, because most men who exercise lose slightly if there is an excess of adipose tissue.
Respectfully yours,